CORALVILLE, Iowa, April 19, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KemPharm, Inc. (NASDAQ:KMPH), a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company engaged in the discovery and development of proprietary prodrugs, today announced the addition of two new members to its senior leadership team with the appointment of Daniel L. Cohen as Executive Vice President, Government and Public Relations, and Rene A. Braeckman, Ph.D., as Vice President, Clinical Development. KemPharm is creating both positions in preparation for multiple potential clinical, regulatory and commercial milestones.

As Executive Vice President, Government and Public Relations, Mr. Cohen will be responsible for leading KemPharm’s public policy and public communications strategies. With nearly 40 years’ experience, Mr. Cohen is widely regarded as an influential thought leader in the abuse deterrent formulation (ADF) industry, currently serving as the Forum Chair of the Abuse Deterrent Coalition, representing nearly 30 ADF manufacturers, patient advocates and related organizations seeking to expand access to ADF technologies. Mr. Cohen will continue in this role while working at KemPharm. Prior to joining KemPharm, Mr. Cohen was the consulting Head of North American Government Relations for Grünenthal USA, a biopharmaceutical company that is developing abuse deterrent formulations for opioid analgesics, and Senior Vice President of Government Relations and Health Policy with the obesity medical device manufacturer, EnteroMedics, Inc.

As Vice President, Clinical Development, Dr. Braeckman brings more than 30 years’ experience in the pharmaceutical industry to KemPharm and will be responsible for spearheading the development of KemPharm’s pipeline of clinical and preclinical proprietary prodrug candidates, including its advancing pain portfolio. KemPharm’s pipeline of prodrug product candidates currently includes six products, three of which – KP201/IR, KP511/ER, and KP415 – are in active preclinical studies or clinical trials, with data for each anticipated in 2016. Prior to joining KemPharm, Dr. Braeckman was Vice President of Clinical Development for Amarin Pharma, Inc.

Travis Mickle, Ph.D., KemPharm’s President and Chief Executive Officer, said, “We are pleased to welcome Dan and Rene to KemPharm. Their extensive experience will be an invaluable resource to KemPharm, and further broadens the management team at an important stage in our business progression. Dan brings a deep background in the areas of government, public policy and abuse deterrence, while Rene’s expertise in clinical development provides key support for our product development timelines as we prepare for the potential approval of ApadazTM and continue building our portfolio of prodrug product candidates.”

About KemPharm

KemPharm is a clinical-stage specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the discovery and development of proprietary prodrugs to treat serious medical conditions through its LAT platform technology. KemPharm utilizes its LAT platform technology to generate improved prodrug versions of FDA-approved drugs in the high need areas of pain, ADHD and other CNS disorders.

Caution Concerning Forward Looking StatementsThis press release may contain forward-looking statements made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking statements include all statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts, and can be identified by the use of words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “project,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “plan,” “believe,” “potential,” “should,” “continue” or the negative versions of those words or other comparable words. These forward-looking statements include statements regarding the timelines surrounding potential clinical trials for KP201/IR, KP511/ER and KP415. These forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future actions or performance. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to KemPharm and its current plans or expectations, and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect current plans. Actual results and performance could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of many factors, including, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties associated with: KemPharm's financial resources and whether they will be sufficient to meet KemPharm's business objectives and operational requirements; results of earlier studies and trials may not be predictive of future clinical trial results; the protection and market exclusivity provided by KemPharm's intellectual property; risks related to the drug discovery and the regulatory approval process; the impact of competitive products and technological changes; and the FDA approval process under the Section 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, including without limitation any timelines for related approval. KemPharm's forward-looking statements also involve assumptions that, if they prove incorrect, would cause its results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These and other risks concerning KemPharm’s business are described in additional detail in KemPharm's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2015, and KemPharm’s other Periodic and Current Reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. KemPharm is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.